Must I Be A Member of A Local Body of Saints?

Must I Be A Member of A Local Body of Saints?

In obeying the gospel, the Lord adds one to the church - Acts 2:47 (Universal sense).

That does not identify one in a Local Congregation. What does it mean to be a member, LOCALLY?

Does the fact that one attends mean that he or she is a "member” of that group?

Names in directory, but seldom attend?

Local Church Membership Is Necessary for the Christian.

Without members, no local church exists

It consists of members

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

To argue that the local congregation is not essential is to do away with it.

What would Elders do if there was no local church?

Shepherd the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

They have rule and authority. Acts 20:17

If there is no local church, elders and their work is eliminated.

Discipline can not be carried out if there is no local church.

1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

This does not mean one cannot attend, but his actions are limited.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Withdraw from disorderly”

This cannot be done without the local congregation.

Exhortation and Encouragement cannot happen without the local church.

Acts 28:15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

2 John 1:12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

Identifying or Placing Membership (Joining yourself to a group)

Biblical Examples

Paul sought to join himself to the disciples.

Acts 9:26-28 - Barnabas represented him.

Paul and Barnabus identified at Antioch

Acts 13:1 - stayed there a year , 11:25-26 - fulfilled role of teachers.

Acts 18:27 - Apollos to be received by the Church in Achaia.

They thought it good at Ephesus that they write Achaia to receive him.

JOINING to a group - the definition

Kollaō - "to join fast together, to glue, cement," is primarily said of metals and other materials (from kolla, "glue"). In the NT it is used only in the Passive Voice, with reflexive force, in the sense of "cleaving unto," as of cleaving to one's wife, Mat 19:5; [...] in Act 5:13; 8:29; 9:26; 10:28; 17:34, in the sense of becoming associated with a person so as to company with him, or be on his side... (Vines)

When you JOIN a local body, you are GLUING YOURSELF TO IT, entering into a RELATIONSHIP.

Why?

FELLOWSHIP - “come together” - 1 Cor. 11:18

EDIFICATION - “Let all things be done for edification.” - 1 Cor. 14:26

ACCOUNTABILITY - “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all” - 1 Tim. 5:20

ACCEPTING or REJECTING members

We have the right to recognize the spiritual standing of others, and receive or reject them upon that basis.

This works the same as discipline.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - “reject the fornicator”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 - “reject those disorderly”

Titus 3:10 - “reject the troublemaker”

Churches have a right to know who they are receiving and rejecting.

1 Corinthians 5:12 - We are to judge those within the Universal Church.

Philippians 2:29 NKJV - Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

Philemon 1:12, 15, 17 NKJV - I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ... For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, ... If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

2 John 1:10 NKJV - If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

The Church at Jerusalem would not accept Paul until they knew more about him - Acts 9:26-28

Ephesians saw a need to encourage Achaia to accept Apollos - Acts 18:27

It is just as bad to accept anyone without proper questions as it is not to discipline.

What it Means to be a Member of the Church

Not an honorary social club. Each member is a functioning unit (1 Corinthians 12).

It means work, obligation, end responsibility. (Compare it to the armed forces)

To attend the assemblies. Hebrews 10:25

Teaching to one’s ability. Acts 13:1

Restoring the erring. Galatians 6:1

Working together harmoniously. Romans 14:19

Support disciplinary action. 1 Corinthians 5:4,5

Worship together. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11

When you “identify” or “join yourself” to a group, you are saying, “I want to worship and serve God with you, and I am putting my main focus in the kingdom on this local group.”

This does not happen when you are saved. It happens when YOU make it known to the local group.

No one should be “assumed” into a local group, UNLESS the group already knows the one who is coming in.

In the same sense, if we already KNOW someone is out of fellowship with God, or is going to be divisive and cause trouble, we have the right as a congregation to refuse membership for such an individual.

Our gentle qualities are something to be shown to the rest of the world.

Philippians 4:5 NKJV - Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

gentleness / moderation / forebearance - from epi, "unto," and eikos, "likely," denotes "seemly, fitting;" hence, "equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not insisting on the letter of the law;" it expresses that considerateness that looks "humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case;"

Misconceptions about being a Member of a Local Church

“Being a member puts me with those who are going to heaven”

Not necessarily! Revelation 3:4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Their membership at Sardis did not make them worthy - their sanctification did!

Faithful members can be among the unfaithful. Membership does not guarantee the right standing with God.

"I am still a member where my letter is... I never moved my letter.”

Some from other churches might be concerned about the fact that they are still regarded as a member at one of those churches.

The Bible is silent on such a statement. Just because someone’s name is “on the roll” does not indicate their spiritual situation.

Thus, just because one is counted a member somewhere else (A denomination/unfaithful church) does not mean they cannot place membership elsewhere.

Did the Jews that Christians converted in the 1st Century have to talk to their Synagogue rulers to have their “membership” transferred?

“There is no need to be a member, we just want to attend"

Acts 9:26 - Did Paul “just want to attend” in Jerusalem?

If he was only intending to “worship” with them, the text would specify.

Further, where does the function and growth of the “body of Christ” happen if not within a local congregation? If there is no need to be a member of a local congregation, how can we properly understand passages like Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12?

“Anyone who is a Christian is approved of by God and does not need to locate”

Paul obviously knew he needed to “locate” with the brethren in Jerusalem. This information was given to him by God.

Galatians 1:15-18 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.